Luna is a 1 year old, spayed, female German Shepherd dog. Luna is an owner surrender that came to Little Heart K9 on October 15, 2018.

Luna’s previous owner adopted Luna from an Arizona shelter. Luna quickly proved to be too much for her adopter. Knowing that the shelter environment is not a good place for Luna to be, her adopter opted to surrender her to Little Heart K9 so that Luna could get the medical care and the training that she needs.

Luna came from the shelter with a gimpy front left leg/paw. Luna is a special needs dog because she needs 1) veterinary care and, 2) board and train (structured obedience training).

Luna has been integrated in to the Little Heart K9 pack. Luna is a first class brat. Luna is sweet, loving, playful, smart, and endearing. Luna is also the kind of dog that has likely never had any obedience training, structure, or rules. Luna’s naughty behavior list is very long. Behavior that may have been cute when she was a puppy, is no longer cute, and this one year old found herself in a kill-shelter. The best thing to come of that was to be adopted by someone who cares enough about her to seek a different life for Luna.

In the process of integrating Luna in to the Little Heart K9 pack, we have overcome a few issues, but she still needs supervision and guidance. Luna is smart, and with the protocol and consistency that a board and train facility can give her, she will be an amazing, polite, well balanced pack member who can then be made available as adoptable. Luna’s potential adopters will need to be willing to meet with her trainer so that Luna’s new-found skill set can be maintained for years to come.

Little Heart K9 has had more than 40 German Shepherd dogs in its care. Luna is the first dog we’ve felt very strongly would benefit tremendously from board and train. They can give her the structure with step by step instructions that best suit her needs. This is why we’re asking for donations: please help us help Luna.

On October 29, 2018, we took Luna to the vet to have her leg/paw evaluated. Luna gave the veterinary staff a run for their money. Luna ranged from “I’m so cute” to extremely aggressive and uncooperative. X-rays show that Luna has an old injury that healed improperly: the metacarpal bones in her left foot were broken. There are two options: 1) See an orthopedic surgeon. Repair would mean breaking the improperly healed bones, setting them, with weeks of healing. Then, a second surgery to remove the plates that set her bones straight. This could cost thousands of dollars. 2) Leave it as is. Luna can walk, run, and may need anti-inflammatory medications as needed for discomfort. Luna can live a fulfilling life, but will not be an all-star athlete. For now, we’ve opted to leave her left front foot as-is.

Please help us help Luna: donate. Funds will be applied to Luna’s veterinary care, training, transportation, food, meds/supplements, etc. We’ve been in touch with a few different Arizona board and train facilities. Evaluation fees for board and train range from $50 to $100. They will evaluate Luna, and Little Heart K9 will evaluate them, as well, to be sure it’s the best fit for Luna. Board and train fees range from $1,950 up to $3,500. Her stay at board and train will last from two to four weeks. We want to do our best to help Luna, and we need your support to make this happen for this beautiful, although bratty, rescued German Shepherd dog.

Update, Nov. 20, 2018: Hi all, We’re so grateful to everyone who has donated to support Luna! THANK YOU! We’re still 2k shy of our goal to get Luna to board and train. Given a somewhat limited audience, the upcoming holidays, and seeing some improvement from Luna by being integrated in to the Little Heart K9 pack, we’ve decided to use the funds we have to-date and go to Plan B.
We’ve hired a local, respected, dog trainer, Jill Cruz. Luna will meet with Jill on Wednesday, November 28th for an off-site, two hour, evaluation. From there, we will take the best course of action to get Miss Luna Bratty-Brat-Brat to an adoptable state of being.
Luna is a good girl, she needs training, consistency, guidance, and she’ll be a great pack member to her future adopter. Luna loves dogs and is a snuggle bug with both dogs and people. When Luna is made adoptable, we will seek a qualified home with dogs.
Thank you again from all of us at Little Heart K9 and Happy Thanksgiving!

Update, Nov. 29, 2018: Hi all, Yesterday, Luna spent two hours on a “field trip” with trainer, Jill Cruz. They spent time with another client and her dog; went in to two different local pet stores; and more. Luna will be adoptable soon. Luna will need a knowledgable, experienced, strong pack leader. She needs someone who can continue her basic obedience skills, inside and outside of the home, practice obedience commands to build on duration and distance, proper social skills with both people and pets, etc. It’s highly recommended that Luna and her adopter meet with Jill Cruz for some one-on-one classes, or attend a basic obedience class. Luna loves people and dogs, is very snuggly, likes attention and to play, and with guidance, will be an amazing pack member to a lucky adopter. For more information about Luna, contact Little Heart K9.

Update, January 8, 2019: Hi all, the holidays have passed and time marches on. Miss Luna has made progress, and will continue to do so with guidance. We are actively seeking a qualified adopter for Luna. Luna is still a bit sassy and will need continued guidance, social time outside of the home, and practice trimming her toe nails. Things that were not possible when she first came to us, are now possible. Luna can be social, playful, friendly, and accepting of other dogs. We can grasp her collar, brush her, play with her, tell her “no, thank you” when she demands attention in an inappropriate way, and more. Luna is kennel trained and her kennel is her safe space to eat, sleep, and retreat to when she’s overwhelmed. Luna would do well in a home with owner(s) that have some experience with strong willed dogs, and a sense of humor. Luna is very talkative. Luna likes to play with, and snuggle with, other dogs and would do well with a well balanced four-legged pack member. Older kids would be ok, and cats are unknown. If you’d like more information about Luna or would like to meet Luna, please contact Little Heart K9.

Meeting Luna.

Luna.

Luna’s left front leg/paw is gimpy. We don’t know yet if this is a birth defect, or if she was injured. With funding, we can address her physical issues with our veterinarian.

Luna at play.

Progress integrating Luna in to the pack.

Luna at the veterinary office. Donations can be made directly to: Jackpot Veterinary Center, phone: 520-999-3888. Please be sure they know the donation is for Little Heart K9 (Laura King).

Luna’s first time upstairs. Luna is with Liam, Kei, and Ginger, our permanent pack members. This picture show her left front leg/paw very clearly.

Luna with Phinn, one of our permanent pack members.

Luna’s x-ray images from Jackpot Veterinary Center, Tucson, Arizona.

Luna’s x-ray images from Jackpot Veterinary Center, Tucson, Arizona.

Luna’s x-ray images from Jackpot Veterinary Center, Tucson, Arizona.

Luna sun bathing.

Since integrating Luna in to the Little Heart K9 pack, she has been under a lot of pressure to BEHAVE. A lot of the time, Luna does. Sometimes, Luna makes poor choices. Luna’s bratty behavior lends to her losing her temper, biting, resource guarding toys, her kennel, food, etc. Luna truly loves being with other dogs. With the step by step training and consistency of board and train, Luna will make a wonderful pack member when she is made available as adoptable. Little Heart K9 needs your help to get Luna to training. Please donate and/or share.

Since integrating Luna in to the Little Heart K9 pack, she has been under a lot of pressure to BEHAVE. A lot of the time, Luna does. Sometimes, Luna makes poor choices. Luna’s bratty behavior lends to her losing her temper, biting, resource guarding toys, her kennel, food, etc. Luna truly loves being with other dogs. With the step by step training and consistency of board and train, Luna will make a wonderful pack member when she is made available as adoptable. Little Heart K9 needs your help to get Luna to training. Please donate and/or share.

Luna with some of her friends.

Luna

Luna with trainer, Jill Cruz. With continued socialization outside of the home, practicing basic obedience skills building on duration and distance, and most importantly: to be adopted by an experienced, knowledgeable, strong pack leader – little Luna will thrive and be an amazing pack member. When adopted, a great bonding experience for Luna and her new family will be to join Jill Cruz for some one-on-one lessons, or to join a basic obedience class.

Luna after spending two hours out and about with trainer, Jill Cruz. Having to use her brain is just as exhausting as physical exercise.

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